I88s.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



263 



"Because it is." We know there is no injury, and disadvantage to a tree to lose by these insects 

 the fact ought to be enough. Possibly the ex- ' what they lose anyway ; but whether this or any 

 planation may be found in the fact that all trees 1 other explanation be the true one or not, the fact 

 have thousands of roots for which they have but a remains that no fruit or tree grower has ever had 

 temporary use. Thousands of roots die annually 1 any actual evidence that the larvas of the seven- 

 under every large tree. It maybe that it is no I teen-year locust ever did a tree injury. 



Greenhouse and House Gardening. 



SEASONABLE HINTS. 



Flowers in winter, is now a great aim, and it has 

 got to be in a measure anything so that it be 

 flowers. The great variety of beauty which flowers 

 afford is seldom thought of, and if we have Roses, 

 Bouvardias, Carnations, Heliotropes, and, if one de- 

 sires to be a little more aristocratic, a few Orchids, 

 it is about the extent of our demands. Still, theSe 

 are sweet and pretty, and the small list is perhaps 

 due to the cheapening process which will give us 

 a whole houseful of one thing for much less figures i 

 than we can grow a great variety in one house. A 

 great mixture demands great skill, but a house of 

 one kind is so easily mastered in its details that 1 

 any smart boy can soon be taught to successfully 

 manage it. But even in these simple processes 

 experience is a great help. As noted, any smart ^ 

 boy can soon be taught to grow Roses, but there 

 is a very great art in knowing how to grow win- 

 ter Roses well, and it is those who succeed in 

 growing these winter flowers to the greatest per- 

 fection that make the most money if they are com- 

 mercial florists, or get the most pleasure if they be 

 chiefly amateurs whose profit is in the pleasure ; 

 that gardening affords. 



In offering hints for successfully growing win- 

 ter flowers, a difficulty arises from the varying cir- 

 cumstances and situations of each grower. It is im- 

 possible to give detailed descriptions of houses, or 

 of practice suited to each, but there are general prin- 

 ciples that are everywhere recognized by experi- 

 enced flower culturists, and these must serve for 

 " Seasonable Hints." 1 



For one, we can remember that the brighter and 

 more direct the sunhght the more flower. Hence 

 it is a good thing to have the slope of the glass as 

 nearly at a right angle with the sun's rays as pos- [ 



sible. And we want all the light we can get, sun- 

 light direct, or reflected light if no other. 



Air or ventilation is not regarded as of so much 

 consequence as it was once thought to be, and 

 houses with full flowers all winter are often kept 

 with sashes all closed. Fresh air for all growing 

 purposes seems to find its way in through chinks 

 and crevices. Still we fancy good growers will 

 yet arrange for an abundance of fresh air if they 

 can get it warm enough. Roots like fresh air, and 

 this is one eftect of watering. The bad, exhausted' 

 air is driven out every time water is poured into 

 the soil, and when the water goes out fresh air 

 follows. Hence a soil that dries rapidly — that 

 wants water often, is much better than one that 

 needs little moisture. And so we like soil rather 

 shallow in the benches or pots, and well drained. 

 On the other hand, soil that is often watered, soon 

 becomes poor. The rich material is washed out ; 

 so that, to have fine flowers, guano or other con- 

 centrated manure may be frequently applied to 

 the surface. 



In mixed houses, where so much enjoyment is to 

 be reached, much the same hints may be given in 

 a general way. But there .are more matters of 

 detail requiring attention. In taking up things 

 from the ground for potting, care should be taken 

 to have the pots well drained, with pieces of pot- 

 sherds over the hole. The more rapidly water 

 passes through the soil the better plants will grow. 

 Pots could be made without holes, and the water 

 would all go through the porous sides in time ; 

 but that is too slow a way, so we make a hole to 

 admit of its more rapid escape, and we place the 

 broken pots over the hole to make a vacuum, 

 which assists the objects of the hole. In very 

 small pots, or with plants which have strong 

 enough roots to rapidly absorb all the moisture 



